CAFS News Bites F rom the O f f i ce o f t h e Dean a nd D i rec to r o f L and G ran t P ro g ram s , Rober t W . T ay lo r , Ph . D .

T h e Co l l e g e o f Ag r i c u l tu r e a n d F o o d S c i e n c e s i n te g r a te s t e a c h i n g , r e s e a r c h &

o u t r e a c h fo r th e b e t t e r m e n t o f o u r s tu d e n ts , c o m m u n i t i e s a n d fu tu r e g e n e r a t i o n s .

Volume 1, Issue 3 FEBRUARY 2015

Gerard Magloire, a junior agribusiness major at Florida A&M University (FAMU), College of Agriculture and Food Sciences (CAFS), began his current semester as an exchange student at Polytechniq Insitut LaSalle Beau-vais, in France, where he is taking courses in nutrition, French cultural eating habits and cultures of the Medi-terranean. His career goal is to create sustainable com-munities centered around growing and consuming food locally and sustainably. Magloire holds a 3.7 grade point average and is a native of Tallahassee, Florida. This is the first time in his adult life he has lived outside of Tallahassee, as well as outside of the United States.

“European Diets and Eating habits are very intriguing to me,” said Magloire. “I feel that sustainable food produc-tion, which is my ultimate career path, requires the con-sideration of nutrition, traditional food/cultural prefer-ences, as well as sustainable agriculture.”

“This is evident when you realize that the current sys-tem of shipping foods from one end of the planet to an-

other is incredibly energy-intensive, sets unreal expecta-tions on seasonal availability and variety of particular food items, and causes many devel-oping nations to focus their efforts toward monoculture crops for export while having little food to feed themselves,” said Magloire.

This eventually leads to depend-ence on food importation, for-eign aid, and expensive and en-vironmentally detrimental petro-chemical products for developing nations in the Caribbean, Central and South America, Africa, and Asia,” said Magloire.

Pictured Above:

Gerard Magloire, a junior agribusiness major, is studying at Polytechniq Insitut LaSalle Beauvais, in France this semester.

CAFS Bites Newsletter February 2015 — Page 2

Thalika Saintil, a recent graduate of the College of Agricul-ture and Food Sciences (2014), will join the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, in August of 2015 to pursue graduate studies in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. Her research topic is: “Innovative approach to determine the source of and solution for high bacteria concentrations in ur-ban streams.”

Saintil, a native of Haiti, earned her Bachelor of Science de-gree from Florida A&M University in agricultural sciences with a concentration in agronomy. Last summer, she partici-pated in a paid internship at the USDA’s National Soil Ero-sion Research Laboratory, in conjunction with Purdue Uni-versity, to conduct a Tile Riser Study on removal of nutrients and sediment that pollute water bodies. Saintil is currently employed by the FAMU-Sustainability Institute.

“Thalika has always been a super

student, a delight in a classroom

and a role model to a lot of stu-

dents. A bright future is ahead of

her,” said O.S. Mbuya, Ph.D., Pro-

fessor, Faculty Director, FAMU-

Sustainability Institute.

Agricultural Sciences Grad Researches Urban Stream Bacteria Solution

Pictured Right: Thalika Saintil,

Bachelor of Science, Agricultural

Sciences, (Agronomy), December

2014.

CAFS Faculty, Staff Give Over $17.5K toward Scholarships in 2014 The College of Agriculture and Food Sciences recently received an award for being in the “Top Three” category of givers for Florida A&M University’s 2014 Faculty and Staff Scholarship Endowment Fund Raising Campaign.

“Thanks to the generosity and kind hearts of our faculty and staff, our college raised $17,650,” said Robert W. Taylor, Ph.D., Dean and Director of Land Grant Programs at CAFS. The Division of University Advancement also thanked Phyllis Moore, Assistant to the CAFS Dean, for coordinating the giving campaign for CAFS.

For more information on how to

contribute to the university’s schol-

arship funds, contact Sadiki S. Per-

ry, Coordinator, University Ad-

vancement/Annual Giving, at (850)

412-6606.

Pictured Right: Robert W. Taylor,

Ph.D., Dean and Director of Land

Grant Programs, CAFS.

Semester in France Helps Student Learn Sustainable Food Production

CAFS Bites Newsletter February 2015 — Page 3

Florida A&M University (FAMU) was well represented at the 2015 Southern Agricultural Economics Association (SAEA) annual meet-ing held in Atlanta, January 31 – February 3. Undergraduate and graduate students from the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences’ (CAFS) Agribusiness Program, along with faculty members, represented FAMU at the event.

“This year we presented three seminar papers and one poster, and our students attended the quiz bowl. It was a very productive and fun trip,” said Daniel Solís, Ph.D., assistant professor for the CAFS Divi-sion of Agricultural Sciences.

One of the seminars presented at the SAEA summarized the prelimi-nary results of collaborative effort between CAFS and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). Michael Thomas, Ph.D., CAFS Interim Associate Dean of Academic Programs, and Solís, are working with FDACS’ chief economist Ser-gio Alvarez, Ph.D., on evaluating the economic impact of citrus greening in Florida.

“Citrus greening is a destructive vector-borne disease that affects all varieties of citrus and is currently threatening the existence of Flori-da’s citrus industry,” said Solís.

The FAMU CAFS Agribusiness Degree Program combines the busi-ness disciplines of management, accounting and finance with eco-nomics, statistics and the physical sciences of agriculture. It offers a rich mix of social and physical sciences, statistics and computer tech-nology and provides a unique combination of disciplines and diversi-ty of training necessary to progress in today’s ever-changing market-place. Agribusiness students learn the essential components of busi-ness analysis that qualifies them for employment with major corpora-tions as managers, analysts and researchers. More information about the Agribusiness Degree Program may be found on the internet at http://agribusinessfamu.weebly.com/, on Facebook at facebook.com/AgribusinessFAMU, or on Twitter at twitter.com/FAMU_AEB.

More information about the SAEA conference may be found online at: http://www.saea.org/annual-meeting/

CAFS, FDACS Collaborate on Citrus Greening Economics Study, Attend 2015 Southern Agricultural Economics Association Meeting

Pictured to the right, from the top —

1st photo, from left: Kimberly Marie (M.S. Student), Victoria Smith (M.S. 2013), Akilah George (Agribusiness, Junior), and Gerard Gun-ner (Agribusines, Junior).

2nd photo, from left: from left: Michael Thomas, Ph.D., CAFS Inter-im Associate Dean of Academic Programs; Daniel Solis, Ph.D., CAFS Associate Professor; Sergio Alvarez, FDACS) chief econo-mist.

3rd photo, from left: Victoria Smith, M.S. in Agribusiness (Class 2003) presents a summary of her Master of Science Thesis.

4th photo, from left: CAFS M.S. and B.S. Agribusiness Students: Carolyn Pompilus, Jarvis Greene, Victoria Smith, Akilah George, Kimberly Marie, Gerard Gunner, and Glyen Holmes.

Eight volunteer agricultural experts from Florida A&M Uni-

versity (FAMU) traveled recently to Montrouis, Haiti, to train

local small farmers and students from the Universite Caraibe

(UC) on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Market

Development. The training is part of FAMU’s Office of

International Agriculture Programs (OIAP) work in the

Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA) Farmer-

to-Farmer (F2F) Program. FAMU’s OIAP donated seeds,

fertilizer and hand tools through university resources to assist

small farmers start vegetable crop production in the area.

The primary funding for this program is provided to FAMU

by the USAID VEGA Small Grants Program.

Montrouis is a rural town located about 50 miles north of

Port Au Prince, Haiti. Smallholder farmers in this community

rely on staple crop production for income and to feed their

households. These farmers mainly produce staple crops such

as rice, beans and plantains. With production focused solely

on staple crops, farmers had not previously taken advantage

of the opportunity for increased income through production

of high-value vegetable crops. Inputs such as seeds and

fertilizer are expensive and difficult to access, and farmers

generally lack the resources to attain these inputs. They

also lack knowledge of GAP for efficient and sustainable

production.

“Small farmers have a lot of production and marketing issues,

and the national structure for extension is not able to address

all the needs for agricultural advisory services for small

farmers,” said Harriett Paul, Director of the FAMU Office

of International Agriculture.

“Agricultural higher education institutions in rural areas

have a responsibility to become engaged in the development

process, and students need to move more from theory to

practice. This program helps them apply their knowledge,

become actively engaged as volunteer mentors and provide

much needed agricultural services in their rural communi-

ties.”

A total of 660 direct beneficiaries and 3,116 indirect benefi-

ciaries were helped by the training workshops conducted

August through December of 2014. In October 2014, students

organized to create the UC Club of Research in Agriculture

(UCCRA), and its president, Auquel Elsonn, helped farmers

secure a contract with the Moulin Sur Mer hotel for orders of

fruits and vegetables. Farmers began delivery and received

their first payment of 10,656 HTG (227.50USD) for products

sold in December 2014. This new market linkage allows the

small farmer group to increase the profit margin of fruits and

vegetables sold by 500 - 600 percent. With the increased

knowledge and skills provided by the help of F2F, members

of the Montrouis community are equipped for continued de-

velopment, growth and success. As a result of this effort, the

UC students now serve as mentors to area farmers and local

primary/secondary school students. Farmers are now able to

take advantage of opportunities in local and regional markets.

CAFS Bites Newsletter February 2015 — Page 4

From Left: Roman Bunker (F2F Volunteer), Lucas Miller (Moulin Sur Mer Manager), Elson Auquel and Wesly Saintilus (UCCRA Students), Chester Bunker (F2F Volunteer).

Farmer-to-Farmer Program Provides Agricultural Mentorship in Haiti

CAFS Bites Newsletter February 2015 — Page 5

CAFS Bites Newsletter February 2015 — Page 6

Florida A&M University (FAMU) Agronomy and Food Science under-graduate, student researchers presented their discoveries at the 112th Annual Meeting of the Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists (SAAS): Biochemistry and Biotechnology Division held in Atlanta from January 31 to February 3.

The SAAS is an umbrella organization that facilitates joint meetings of the southern branches of various profes-sional societies dedicated to agricultural sciences.

Student researchers in attendance from FAMU’s College of Agriculture and Food Sciences (CAFS) were: Mariah Henry (agronomy major), Britney Clark (food science major) and Jasmine Hall (food science major). The students are mentored by Antony Ananga, Ph.D., assistant professor in Food Biotechnol-ogy at the FAMU Center for Viticulture and Small Fruit Research.

“The students were given the high honor to be lecture presenters for this year’s Biochemistry and Biotechnology Meeting,” said Ananga. “Our students were the only undergraduate presenters on the program and had the unique opportunity to measure upon graduate and professional researchers at the national level.”

The papers presented were as follows:

Britney Clark, Anthony Ananga, Vasil Georgiev and Violeta Tsolova: “Characterization and molecular cloning of flavonoid related Glucosyl-transferase (GT’s) genes from musca-dine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia Much.)”

Jasmine Hall, Anthony Ananga, Vasil Georgiev and Violeta Tsolova, “Identification and Characterization of potential allergens in muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia Much.)”

Mariah Henry, Anthony Ananga, Vasil Georgiev and Violeta Tsolova: “Molecular identification and detection

of Eutypa lata in muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia Much.)”

Research and travel for these under-graduate students is funded in part through the undergraduate student

research program initiated by CAFS Dean and Director of Land-Grant Programs, Robert W. Taylor, Ph.D. More information about SAAS is available online at: http://saasinc.org/default.asp

FAMU CAFS’ Center for Viticulture and Small Fruit Research fosters young research endeavors. From left: Jasmine Hall, food science major; Mariah Henry, agronomy major; Anthony Ananga, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in Food Biotechnology; and Britney Clark, food science major.

Agronomy, Food Science Majors Present New Grape Research at Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists National Meeting

Congratulations

Dean Taylor!

CAFS Bites Newsletter February 2015 — Page 7

www.famu.edu/cafs

The College of Agriculture and Food Sciences (CAFS) recently hosted a visit from Yolanda Wil-liams-Bey and Jeanette Miller of the University of Delaware who presented opportunities for paid research internships through the Delaware EPSCoR and NEWRnet programs based in Newark, Dela-ware. About 18 Florida A&M Uni-versity students attended the presentation held February 10th. Last summer, Prian Esquivel, a CAFS agronomy major, secured an in-ternship through the University of Delaware’s (UD) Delaware EPSCor Summer Scholars program last summer. Quincy Hardy, a CAFS food science major, also participated in a summer internship at UD at the invitation of the Delaware Environmental Institute (DENIN).

Find out how to get your internship this summer at denin-info@udel.edu or 302-831-3436.

FAMU Interns Sought for Paid, Summer Research in Delaware

Above Far Right: Jeanette Miller, Associate Director of Interdiscipli-nary Programs Delaware Environmental Institute, of the University of Delaware, speaks to FAMU students on opportuni-ties for paid research internships through the Delaware EPSCoR and NEWRnet programs based in Newark, Delaware.

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

College of Agriculture & Food Sciences Office of the Dean - Dr. Robert W. Taylor

1740 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Perry-Paige Building, Rm. 207-S

Tallahassee, FL 32307

CAFS Bites Newsletter February 2015 — Page 8

Alumni Roll Call! Connect With US! We are calling all alumni to reconnect by updating your contact data to keep you “in the know” of CAFS’ latest hap-penings and celebrates the successes of alumni. If you are a CAFS (or CESTA) graduate, please complete the box to the right and send it to:

CAFS Alumni Affairs 1740 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Perry Paige Bldg., Rm. 106-S Tallahassee, FL 32307

Or email: gilda.phills@famu.edu

Information collected will only be used for official university communications.

Great Things Happen Everyday at FAMU!Great Things Happen Everyday at FAMU!

Name__________________________________________________________

Degree(s), Discipline(s) & Year(s) Graduated ________________________

.__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Current Profession/Title __________________________________________

Company Name _________________________________________________

Phone & Cell____________________________________________________

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CAFS News Bites is published bi-monthly by the Office of the Dean, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, at Florida A&M University. To submit calendar events, stories, or photos, please contact Cynthia Lamb, Editor, at cynthia.lamb@ famu.edu.